LOCAL SOCCER
Lionsbridge shuts out foe in Winchester
Lionsbridge FC stayed unbeaten in the USL League Two season, earning a 3-0 road victory Wednesday night over the Virginia Marauders in Winchester.
The Marauders (0-3) were assessed a red card in the 31st minute, giving Lionsbridge more room to attack. The Lions (5-0 overall, 4-0 in the league) had 10 first-half corner kicks, though they did not score.
But in the 47th minute, moments after halftime, Tai-Reece Chisholm scored off David Wrona’s assist. Harri Rowe netted a free kick in the 56th, and Celestin Blondel made it 3-0 in the 83rd.
Goalkeeper Tyler Hogan earned his third shutout in four league games. The Lions lead the Chesapeake Division by six points (two victories) entering Saturday’s home game at TowneBank Stadium against second-place Virginia Beach United (2-0-1).
INTERNATIONAL SOCCER
UVA players on US U20 semifinal team
Forward Maggie Cagle and midfielder Jill Flammia, a pair of rising sophomores on the Virginia women’s team, could play in a CONCACAF U20 semifinal at 6 p.m. today when the United States takes on Costa Rica in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
In group action, the U.S. defeated Panama 6-0 before taking a 4-0 victory over Jamaica and a 5-2 win over Canada.
Cagle played in all three matches and started against Jamaica. Flammia saw action against Panama and Canada, but did not play versus Panama.
The winner will advance to the final against either Canada or Mexico at 3 p.m. Sunday.
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER
W&M reveals schedule
William & Mary announced a schedule that will include 16 matches, eight at home.
The Tribe will open its regular season at 5 p.m. Aug. 24 at home against Binghamton. W&M will play host to Old Dominion on Sept. 12 and will play at Virginia Tech on Oct. 10 and at North Carolina on Oct. 17. The Tribe hopes to earn one of the six tournament spots in the 11-team Colonial Athletic Association.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Beekman will return for UVA senior season
Virginia guard Reece Beekman announced Wednesday night, just a few hours before the deadline, that he would withdraw his name from the 2023 NBA draft pool and return to the Cavaliers for his senior season.
He reportedly had a strong showing in the draft combine, and one mock draft had him being selected at No. 43 if he had stayed in — four spots ahead of National Player of the Year Zach Edey of Purdue.
Beekman, one of the ACC’s top defenders, should join fellow returnees Ryan Dunn and Isaac McKneely on what is likely to be a roster with plenty of newcomers, including transfers.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
W&M ranked No. 7 in Hero Sports poll
William & Mary was ranked seventh in the Hero Sports FCS preseason poll, joining its No. 4 ranking by Athlon Sports.
Led by 2022 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year finalist Mike London, the Tribe is expected to return 15 starters from last season’s FCS quarterfinalists, highlighted by Buck Buchanan Award runner-up John Pius and five first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association performers. W&M will open its season Aug. 31 at Campbell.
Other CAA teams in the Hero poll are No. 8 New Hampshire, No. 18 Rhode Island, No. 21 Richmond and No. 25 Delaware.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
R-MC’s Ellis named All-American
Randolph-Macon sophomore pitcher Gracie Ellis, a former New Kent High star, was named a third-team Division III All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
She set R-MC single-season records with 25 wins and 234 strikeouts, posting a 1.33 earned-run average in 199 2/3 innings. Her team, which set a school record with 42 victories, was eliminated by Rowan last week in an NCAA Super Regional.
COLLEGE MEN’S GOLF
UVA’s James named nation’s top freshman
Virginia’s Ben James was named the winner of the 2023 NCAA Division I Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award. He became the second UVA golfer to gain that award, joining Jimmy Flippen in 1992.
James was also named to the GCAA’s All-Freshman team.
In 13 tournaments, he posted a school-record stroke average of 69.0 for 40 rounds. He posted 11 top-six finishes, had 24 rounds in the 60s and 33 rounds of par or better. His sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships tied as the second-best by a Cavalier.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S LACROSSE
CNU players named to senior all-star game
Christopher Newport players Riley Rafterry-Lee and Kendall Krause were named to play in the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division III all-star game in Sparks, Maryland, at 12:15 p.m. Saturday.
Virginia teammates Ashlyn McGovern and Annika Meyer were named to the Division I game, which will follow on the same field at 2:30 p.m.
